Tsunesaburo Makiguchi

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (23 July 1871-18 November 1944) was a Japanese school principal and religious leader who founded Soka Gakkai in 1930. He served as its first president from 18 November 1930 to 18 November 1944, and he was succeeded by Josei Toda.

Biography
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was born in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in 1871, and he worked as a teacher and school principal for years. He sought to reform the oppressive school system of fascist Japan during the Interwar period, and he founded the Soka Gakkai movement of Buddhism in 1930. Makiguchi was imprisoned by the authorities during World War II due to his opposition to its oppressive laws, and he died in prison in 1944. His fellow imprisoned educator Josei Toda went on to succeed him as Soka Gakkai's president.